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Email letters, July 30, 2014

An ad sponsored by supporters of Mark Udall has been running on television accusing Republican Senatorial candidate Cory Gardner of trying to redefine the word “rape.” In fact, the reverse is true. The ad is sponsored by the Senate Majority PAC, whose contributors (according to a variety of sources) include Tom Steyer, the billionaire hedge fund manager, as well as several
unions. Gardner has called upon Udall to disavow the ad, but Colorado’s incumbent Senator has neglected to do so, making him complicit in the falsehood.

The ad is based on a 2011 bill in Congress on federal funding for abortions. The bill provided exceptions to the long-standing prohibition on such funding. Those exceptions were for rape or incest or where the mother’s life is in jeopardy. However, in its initial form the bill included the word “forcible” in the context of rape. Gardner demanded that the added word be removed so that the exception permitted by the bill would apply to all rape cases. The added word was removed in the next version of the bill. These facts are explained in detail in a “Reality Check” piece by reporter Shaun Boyd of CBS News in Denver, hardly a Republican source. A video clip of that report can be found at http://cbsloc.al/1ndBLuj.

In Colorado, we worry about the nature of political discourse in our society, realizing that civil and fact-based discussions between partisans are key to preserving a healthy democracy. One wonders why Udall has not disavowed this slanderous ad.

The ad is particularly scurrilous because it uses an issue that is extremely hurtful to victims of unspeakable acts to further the ambitions of a politician. How sick can you get? When does using women as political pawns stop?

FRIEDA WALLISONSnowmass

Kids Voting welcomes new Executive Director

It is Kids Voting Mesa County’s pleasure to introduce our new Executive Director, Karen Houlihan. Houlihan has several years experience in events coordination, marketing and bookkeeping.” She also graduated from CMU this spring with a second degree in Business Management, and was selected Senior of the year by the Business Faculty. As many of you know, Kids Voting Mesa County had a difficult 2013. But thanks to the generous support of the community, Kids Voting Mesa County will continue. While we aren’t completely out of the woods yet, we are stronger than before and ready to continue our mission of encouraging young people to become knowledgeable and engaged citizens. Houlihan is ready to take on the challenge and will bring new energy to the position. We hope you will continue to support Kids Voting Mesa County either by donating, attending one of our events, or volunteering your time either through Board Membership or committees. Please feel free to contact myself or Karen Houlihan at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with any questions or to contribute.

Thank you again to our supportive community and to Martha Graf, previous Executive Director, for keeping Kids Voting Mesa County alive. We wish Graf luck as she moves on to new adventures in the Non-Profit world as we look forward to many more years of service to Mesa County.

Closing coal plants will result in increase in energy and electricity prices

Again, the Federal Government uses the EPA as a weapon against workers and private citizens. The Obama administration is hell bent on closing coalmines, despite what he said in his campaign speeches. The truth of the matter is that when all the coal plants close and the energy creation by coal burning plants is shut down, we can expect to pay more than 4 or 5 times what we pay now for electricity and all related things that we have come to take for granted.

So, for those that are hoping to see the EPA and other government agencies shut down and more private businesses heavily regulated, especially here in Colorado, you better get your windmills up and start cranking those bicycle generators so that you can charge your laptop and phone batteries. You won’t be able to afford to run your swamp cooler all day or turn the lights on at
night. You seem to already reside in the dark and you had better not light a kerosene lamp. They put carbons into the environment and those are going to be regulated too. As for cooking dinner, well, the next step is to raise natural gas and propane prices through the roof due to regulation and shut down of production. Wake up America.

RICHARD BRIGHTGrand Junction

Small employers can help create opportunities for young Coloradoans

Nearly five years have passed since the end of the Great Recession, yet more than 16 percent of young Coloradoans are unemployed — a staggering number that negatively affects economic demand. At the same time, small employers are struggling to fill job vacancies that are critical to both individual company success and overall economic growth.

To help address this problem, Small Business Majority launched a national campaign asking small employers to help bridge the gap between youth who are out of school and out of work, and small businesses having a hard time filling entry-level positions.

The pledge asks small business owners to commit to taking one or more actions to create opportunities for our youth, such as increasing the number of opportunity youth hires within their company, expanding intern positions, or adopting a mentoring program for local youth.

The best way small employers can help create professional opportunities for young people is by giving them the chance to gain critical hands-on experience. Far too many young Americans are struggling to find jobs after they leave school, which negatively affects our workforce and economic demand. To learn how you can get involved, check out the campaign at http://www.smallbiz4youth.com.

TIM GAUDETTEColorado Outreach Manager, Small Business Majority
Denver

Fed’s reconfiguration of inflation rate misleading

Due to the new way the Feds have reconfigured the inflation rate, they would like you to believe that they are doing such a great job with the economy that Social Security recipients will only need a 1 1/2% increase next year. At the same time, the cost of Medicare has increased, so they will have to raise the amount they charge, which will in turn raise the price of any supplemental plans people have. It’s known as the raise-less raise.

Hope you all feel better.

L.W. HUNLEYGrand Junction

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By Jerry Sanders - Thursday, July 31, 2014

Lest we forget that Udall voted to give our gun rights to the UN. As did Bennet. Shall we ever learn. Damn the citizenry. All for the party.